The Regulatory Policy Committee has declined a meeting requested by the Association of Independent Tobacco Specialists about impact assessments linked to the government consultation on tobacco, vaping and nicotine products. Stephen Gibson, Chair of the Regulatory Policy Committee, said the government must protect public policy from commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry under Article 5.3 of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The committee advised the association to submit its comments to the Department of Health and Social Care as part of its consultation response. It will publish the association’s correspondence and the committee’s reply on GOV.UK, in line with the department’s guidance on applying Article 5.3.